Description
Qemu before version 2.9 is vulnerable to an improper link following when built with the VirtFS. A privileged user inside guest could use this flaw to access host file system beyond the shared folder and potentially escalating their privileges on a host.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Qemu | qemu 2.9 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | qemu | 1:2.8+dfsg-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | qemu | 1:2.8+dfsg-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | qemu | 1:2.8+dfsg-3 | — |
| Debian 8 | qemu | 1:2.1+dfsg-12+deb8u7 | DLA-1497-1 |
| Debian 7 | qemu +1 | 1.1.2+dfsg-6+deb7u22 | DLA-1035-1, DLA-965-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | qemu | 1:2.5+dfsg-5ubuntu10.11 | USN-3261-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | qemu | 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.33 | USN-3261-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | qemu | 2.6.2-41.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1774-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
| SLES 12 | qemu | 2.0.2-48.34.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2969-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-60.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2963-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | kvm | 1.4.2-53.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3084-1 |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | qemu | 2.6.2-41.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:1774-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | kvm | 1.4.2-60.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2963-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 6 | qemu | 2.3.1-33.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | kvm | 1.4.2-53.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3084-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | qemu | 6.1.0-32.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11287-1 |
Advisories 10
- DLA-965-1 qemu-kvm - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1497-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1035-1 qemu - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3261-1 qemu vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:1774-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:2969-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:2963-1 Security update for kvm SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:3084-1 Security update for kvm SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11287-1 qemu-6.1.0-32.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- SUSE-SU-2017:2946-1 Security update for qemu SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
References
- [qemu-devel] 20170220 [PATCH 00/29] 9pfs: local: fix vulnerability to symlink attacks mailing-list
- 1037604 vdb-entry
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180906 [SECURITY] [DLA 1497-1] qemu security update mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2016-9602
- [oss-security] 20170117 CVE-2016-9602 Qemu: 9p: virtfs allows guest to access host filesystem mailing-list
- [qemu-devel] 20170130 [PATCH RFC 00/36] 9pfs: local: fix vulnerability to symlink attacks mailing-list
- GLSA-201704-01 vendor-advisory
- 95461 vdb-entry